City Holding Company (Parent Company Only) Financial Information (Condensed Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			13 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017
Operating Activities
Net Income Available to Common Shareholders	$ 10,713	$ 20,692	$ 20,979	$ 17,616	$ 9,669	$ 13,932	$ 14,685	$ 16,026	$ 70,002	$ 54,310	$ 52,128
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Unrealized and Realized Investment Gains (Losses)									90	(4,476)	(3,513)
Deferred income tax expense									(1,244)	14,909	3,817
Stock based compensation									2,151	2,097	2,018
Asset write down									491	0	444
Change in other assets									(836)	1,277	(1,556)
Change in other liabilities									5,624	(426)	5,581
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities									73,073	77,843	65,330
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sales of available for sale securities									0	5,776	30,850
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities									(163,966)	(173,405)	(261,293)
Financing Activities
Repayments of Subordinated Debt									(16,495)
Proceeds from the Redemption of Capital Securities									495
Dividends paid									(29,583)	(27,120)	(25,718)
Issuance of common stock									0	28,408	6,864	$ 36,400
Purchases of treasury stock									(20,271)	0	(10,018)
Exercise of stock options									1,164	597	1,155
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities									131,376	89,931	213,989
(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents									40,483	(5,631)	18,026
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period				82,508				88,139	82,508	88,139	70,113
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	122,991				82,508				122,991	82,508	88,139	82,508
Parent Company
Operating Activities
Net Income Available to Common Shareholders									70,002	54,310	52,128
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Unrealized and Realized Investment Gains (Losses)									(208)	(200)	0
Deferred income tax expense									(88)	1,347	(241)
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net									1	1	(4)
Stock based compensation									2,151	2,097	2,018
Asset write down									193	0	444
Change in other assets									2,668	(405)	260
Change in other liabilities									(1,816)	(1,660)	(2,288)
Equity In Undistributed Earnings Of Subsidiaries									(23,171)	(25,199)	(44,752)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities									49,732	30,291	7,565
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sales of available for sale securities									0	200	0
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities									(23,452)	200	0
Financing Activities
Repayments of Subordinated Debt									(16,495)
Proceeds from the Redemption of Capital Securities									495
Dividends paid									(29,583)	(27,120)	(25,718)
Issuance of common stock									0	28,408	6,864
Purchases of treasury stock									(20,271)	0	(10,018)
Exercise of stock options									1,164	732	1,155
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities									(64,690)	2,020	(27,717)
(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents									(38,410)	32,511	(20,152)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period				$ 59,031				$ 26,520	59,031	26,520	46,672
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$ 20,621				$ 59,031				20,621	$ 59,031	26,520	$ 59,031
Farmers Deposit Bancorp, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Acquired from Acquisition											4,209
Investing Activities
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired									(20,691)
Farmers Deposit Bancorp, Inc. [Member] | Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Acquired from Acquisition									946
Investing Activities
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired									(23,954)
Poage Bankshares, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Acquired from Acquisition											$ 34,288
Investing Activities
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired									32,917
Poage Bankshares, Inc. [Member] | Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Acquired from Acquisition									518
Investing Activities
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired									$ 502